High school students drop pencils to take part in day of community service

MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester Regional High School students left the classroom and participated in community service activities on Wednesday, Nov. 27 during a half-day of school.

It was the school district’s inaugural Community Service Learning Day, and all high school students in attendance participated.

Over 20 volunteer activities were offered, ranging from writing letters to soldiers and assembling care packages for local senior citizens to campus beautification. The event also included off-site opportunities to distribute food to people in need at Damien’s Pantry and help in the warehouse at Friends of Jack.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and staff for their enthusiastic participation in this first-of-its-kind event,” Superintendent Mike Nelson said. “We hope that it’s the first of many. This first annual schoolwide Community Service Learning Day reflects our commitment to developing not just learners, but leaders who give back to the communities that support them.”

According to Nelson, the day’s events would not have been possible without the leadership of Lauren Millette, the interim vice principal of the high school.

“Watching the students and faculty participate in the various service learning activities with smiles on their faces was such a highlight,” Millette said. “So many of the students reflected on how special it felt to give back. It was definitely a great day to be a Bulldog.”

Other activities included creating handmade cards for hospitalized children, baking treats for local families for Thanksgiving and helping to make blankets from fleece for PACE Headstart in New Bedford to be given to the preschool students there. Some students kept busy knitting crocheted hats, scarves and mittens, to be donated to local homeless shelters.

Several groups of students focused on campus beautification efforts, such as painting inspirational quotes on bathroom walls, helping to build the Transition Program’s garden, and updating hallway bulletin boards.

Some students focused on emergency preparedness, learning CPR and earning a certificate of completion through the Family & Friends CPR Course offered through the American Heart Association. One group helped plan mental health initiatives and events for the nonprofit KyleCares, dedicated to promoting open communication about the mental health challenges experienced by teens and young adults in today’s society.

“This event was a huge success both inside the school and in the community,” Principal Mike Devoll said. “As part of a year-long study, we identified service learning as a major opportunity to foster growth in our student body and strengthen our commitment to the community.”

The district is already planning to expand Community Service Learning Day next year.